Barcelona come from behind to beat Alavés 3-1, Raphinha leading the way.

Barcelona fell behind in the opening minute but came back to win 3-1 against Alavés on the 126th anniversary of the tournament. The highlight was Raphinha: returning from injury, he played 60 minutes with one assist, xA 0.76 and total xG+xA 0.91, changing the course of the game and helping the home team temporarily take the lead in the La Liga standings.

Raphinha and her bounce back after the cold shower.

Immediately after conceding an early goal, Barcelona regained their rhythm with energy and decisiveness from Raphinha on the wing. The speed of their pressing, their fiery fighting spirit, and their quick thinking helped the home team draw their opponents back into their own half, re-establishing their attacking structure after a difficult start.

Number 11 constantly moved off the ball into the spaces, stretching Alavés' defense. His bursts of speed and changes of direction created explosive moments in the air, forcing the visiting defense to retreat and leave gaps at the edge of the penalty area.

Tactical role: a transit point and a lever of opportunity.

From a professional standpoint, Raphinha became the primary ball-carrying hub for the 60 minutes he was on the pitch. Not only was he a link between the ball and the opponent, but he also proactively delivered high-impact passes directly into the opponent's penalty area. The quality of his play was demonstrated by the fact that he created 3 clear chances and generated 0.76 assists.

The highlights were evident in the open play: a combination on the left wing led to Lamine Yamal's equalizer, and the decisive pass allowed Dani Olmo to put Barcelona 2-1 up. Once the momentum shifted, Barcelona controlled the pace of the game better and finished with a 3-1 victory.

Selective statistics

• Duration: 60 minutes of play
• Touches: 40 times; 5 times inside the penalty area.
• Passing: 19/25, with 76% accuracy.
• Opportunity to create: 3; expected creation index xA 0.76
• Shots: 3 shots; one instance forced the opposing defender to clear the ball right on the goal line.
• Dribbling: 100% successful
• Long pass: 1 accurate shot
• Defense: 2 ball recoveries
• Total xG + xA: 0.91

The main energy of a comeback.

Raphinha was both a creator and a scorer, while also contributing to the defense. His all-around contribution helped Barcelona maintain direct pressure on the opponent's goal, thereby reversing the momentum of the match early on. Although he left the field to conserve energy, his impact was significant enough to shape the final result.

Significance for the race

The 3-1 victory against Alavés on the 126th anniversary of the club's formation was a testament to the depth of Barcelona's attacking options with Raphinha's return. The three points temporarily propelled the home team to the top of the La Liga table.